Fans of the Miller Career Academy, Belleville East, Gateway Tech and Belleville West basketball teams probably still can’t believe what they witnessed.

Those four teams were involved in two of the best basketball games in recent history.

On January 9, senior swingman Jerome Jones scored 65 points as Miller Career Academy defeated visiting Gateway Tech 115-111 in five overtimes.

On Friday night, Belleville East blew an 18-point third quarter lead but managed to pull out a 126-115 victory in four overtimes in the Illinois Class 4A Regional final at East.

Both games will be remain in the history books for some time.

Jones’ 65 points ranks as one of the best single-game performances in St. Louis area history. The 6-foot-4 senior, who has signed with Missouri State, made 28 of 34 free throws and made 17 field goals, including three 3-pointers.

The St. Louis area record for points in a game is the 75 Glenn Graff of Dupo scored against Waterloo on Feb. 17, 1956. The Public High League record is 66 points, scored by Percy Wells of Central High vs. Soldan on Jan. 20, 1971. The 65 points in one game is tied for 10th in state history.

That game also set state records.

Miller Career Academy’s 115 points is the most scored by a team in an overtime game. The 226 combined points broke the record for most points scored by both teams in an overtime game. The Phoenix attempted 75 free throws in the game, which ranks as the most taken by a team in a single-game in state history. The 79 total fouls called is the most by both teams in a single game.

Belleville East’s win over Belleville West, which was highlighted by East point guard Kevin Pettiford scoring a career-high 41 points, set Illinois High School Association state tournament series records.

The 241 points scored by both teams broke the record for most points scored in a game. The 80 fouls called were the most in a game. West’s 115 points was the most scored by a losing team.